The 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA demonstrated that Afghanistan is no longer just making up the numbers.
The incredible talent pool in the country’s reserves, coupled with the experience it has gained by playing cricket in leagues around the world, has made the team a serious contender to go deep into ICC tournaments.
The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led team has performed exceptionally well since the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023, where it earned wins against England and Pakistan and took Australia to the brink, only to end up facing the wrath of a certain Glenn Maxwell.
In five bilateral series since the ODI World Cup, Afghanistan has won four, including one against South Africa in the UAE.
The Afghan Atalan’s only loss came in an away tour against Sri Lanka, where they were batted out of contention by Pathum Nissanka.
Afghanistan’s success in limited-overs cricket has been built on the platform provided by its openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.
The two right-handers have combined for 1,514 runs in 31 ODI matches, averaging a partnership of 48.83 per game.
The duo is placed second on the all-time partnership list for the country, behind Rahmat Shah and Shahidi, who will bat at three and four — indicating the consistency the top order possesses.
There is no shortage of power-hitting in the middle order as well. Gulbadin Naib is entering the competition on the back of a stupendous return in the International League T20, where he scored 381 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of nearly 160.
Afghanistan’s biggest strength remains its spin attack, spearheaded by the ever-reliable Rashid Khan. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi has plenty of options at his disposal, highlighting the team’s depth in this department.
Such is the wealth of spin talent that Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, fresh off an impressive SA20 campaign, couldn’t find a spot in the squad. Meanwhile, teenage spinner AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a back injury. In his place, Afghanistan has drafted in 20-year-old left-arm spinner Nangyal Kharoti, who has seven ODI caps and will be eager to make his first appearance since facing Bangladesh in Sharjah late last year.
Afghanistan’s pace attack offers a well-rounded mix of skills, making it a formidable unit. Azmatullah Omarzai’s ability to swing the new ball gives the team an edge in the PowerPlay, helping to make early breakthroughs. Meanwhile, Fazalhaq Farooqi — who topped the wicket charts at the 2024 T20 World Cup — will be a key weapon at both ends of the innings. The left-arm seamer can generate movement early on and shift gears with clever variations at the death, making him a vital asset in Afghanistan’s bowling lineup.
However, a potential concern for Afghanistan lies in its ability to chase down big totals. The team has struggled when set a target of 300 or more, winning just one out of 10 such encounters. This inconsistency in high-pressure chases could prove to be a stumbling block in the Champions Trophy.
Afghanistan will take on South Africa, England, and Australia in Group B, with its matches taking place in Karachi and Lahore.
If the team is welcomed by its neighbour with flat pitches, the onus will fall on the batting core to rise to the occasion.
However, if there is a hint of turn on offer, expect Afghanistan to give the other three teams a run for their money.
Player to watch out for: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
At 23 years old, Gurbaz has become a constant fixture in the Afghanistan white-ball setup and T20 franchise teams across the globe. In 46 ODIs so far, the opener has scored 1,769 runs at an average of 39.31 and a healthy strike rate of 88.49.
The keeper-batter’s fast starts in the PowerPlay and his partnership with Zadran helped Afghanistan reach the T20 World Cup semifinals last year, and the team will be hoping for more of the same this time round.
Full squad:
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami